In December 2002, I sent the writer Mick Brown to Los Angeles to carry out the first major interview with Phil Spector in 25 years. The headline on the piece, published on 4 February, 2003, was 'Found: Pop's Lost Genius'. Not more than 36 hours later, former B-movie actress Lana Clarkson was shot dead in Spector's castle.

In Mick's interview, carried out in that same sepulchral residence in the suburb of Alhambra, the legendary producer told him, 'I have devils inside that fight me. And I'm my own worst enemy', as well as 'To all intents and purposes I would say I'm probably relatively insane, to an extent'. So you can imagine how he and I felt when news broke of the Clarkson murder. (Shocked. And: 'what a scoop!', seeing as you ask.)

In fact, the thought entered Mick's head that Spector had killed his assistant Michelle Blaine as some kind of act of retribution for her help in setting up the interview. I was working for the Telegraph Magazine at the time (I edit the Observer Music Monthly magazine now, in which Sean O'Hagan reviews Tearing Down The Wall of Sound this Sunday) and had knocked up a kind of interview wish list with Mick, who's one of the country's great rock writers.

Who would be the ultimate get? The 'Tycoon of Teen', in Tom Wolfe's description, came top. Mick had always loved Spector's music - and then there was all that business with the guns, the crazy behaviour, the years as a virtual recluse.

This is where Starsailor will claim their place in history. Improbably, there was news that Spector was producing a new album by the Britflop rockers. Through following a chain that started with Starsailor's pr, we found a route to Michelle Blaine, who to our amazement said she could meet us in London shortly. At that meeting, I guess she scoped us out. Shortly afterwards, the email came inviting Mick to Los Angeles. (Even then, he was not sure the interview would ever take place - but then Spector's chauffered Rolls turned up at his hotel to ferry him to the castle.)

Even though I was Mick's editor for the interview (later called 'one of the most famous interviews in rock journalism' by Mojo magazine), you should believe me when I say that his book is a masterpiece of its kind. (You can also come and hear him in discussion with me at Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street next Tuesday evening.)

I guess the question should be: who should top that interview wish list now? And is there any hope for Spector when his trial begins?